diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8845458
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: Prepare App Store Version
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      version:
+        description: 'Version to prepare (defaults to the branch MARKETING_VERSION)'
+        required: false
+      build:
+        description: 'TestFlight build number to attach (defaults to the latest for the version)'
+        required: false
+
+jobs:
+  prepare:
+    name: Prepare App Store Version
+    runs-on: macos-15
+    environment: release
+    if: github.actor == 'adborbas'
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Ruby
+        uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
+        with:
+          bundler-cache: true
+
+      - name: Prepare App Store version
+        env:
+          ASC_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.ASC_KEY_ID }}
+          ASC_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.ASC_ISSUER_ID }}
+          ASC_KEY_P8: ${{ secrets.ASC_KEY_P8 }}
+        run: bundle exec fastlane prepare_release version:"${{ inputs.version }}" build:"${{ inputs.build }}"
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
index 88c32fa..d754695 100644
--- a/RELEASING.md
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@
 
 Hemera uses release branches to allow development to continue on `main` while a release stabilizes (e.g., during Apple review).
 
-The release is automated with [fastlane](fastlane/Fastfile) and GitHub Actions. Each of the three steps below has a matching lane you can run locally and a `workflow_dispatch` workflow you can trigger from the GitHub **Actions** tab:
+The release is automated with [fastlane](fastlane/Fastfile) and GitHub Actions. Each step below has a matching lane you can run locally and a `workflow_dispatch` workflow you can trigger from the GitHub **Actions** tab:
 
 | Step | Lane | Workflow |
 |---|---|---|
 | Cut a release | `bundle exec fastlane cut_release version:1.3.0` | **Cut Release** |
 | Upload to TestFlight | `bundle exec fastlane beta` | **Upload to TestFlight** |
+| Prepare App Store version | `bundle exec fastlane prepare_release version:1.3.0` | **Prepare App Store Version** |
 | Publish | `bundle exec fastlane publish version:1.3.0` | **Publish Release** |
 
+**Prepare App Store version** creates/updates the App Store version, attaches a TestFlight build (the latest processed one by default, or a specific build via the `build` input), sets the release notes (from `fastlane/metadata/en-US/release_notes.txt`), and marks it for automatic release once approved. It stops short of submitting — you click **Submit for Review** in App Store Connect. Release notes are a fixed string; edit that file (or override in ASC) to change them. Screenshots and all other metadata are managed manually in App Store Connect (the lane leaves them untouched).
+
 The manual git/`gh` steps below are what each lane does under the hood, kept for reference and for one-off manual releases.
 
 ## Cutting a release
diff --git a/fastlane/Fastfile b/fastlane/Fastfile
index 2b2fae2..b4a1ffa 100644
--- a/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -136,6 +136,51 @@ platform :ios do
 
     UI.success("Published #{tag}. Opened a back-merge PR for #{branch} → main.")
   end
+
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  # 4. Prepare an App Store version for review
+  #    Creates/updates the App Store version, attaches the latest processed
+  #    build, sets the release notes (from fastlane/metadata), and marks it for
+  #    automatic release — everything except the final Submit, which stays a
+  #    manual click in App Store Connect.
+  #    Usage: bundle exec fastlane prepare_release [version:1.4.0] [build:12]
+  #    version defaults to the branch MARKETING_VERSION; build to the latest.
+  # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  desc "Prepare an App Store version for review (does not submit)"
+  lane :prepare_release do |options|
+    version = options[:version]
+    version = nil if version.to_s.strip.empty?
+    version ||= get_xcconfig_value(key: "MARKETING_VERSION")
+
+    api_key = app_store_connect_api_key(
+      key_id: ENV.fetch("ASC_KEY_ID"),
+      issuer_id: ENV.fetch("ASC_ISSUER_ID"),
+      key_content: ENV.fetch("ASC_KEY_P8"),
+      is_key_content_base64: true,
+      in_house: false
+    )
+
+    # Attach a specific build if given, otherwise the latest build already
+    # uploaded to TestFlight for this version.
+    build_number = options[:build]
+    build_number = nil if build_number.to_s.strip.empty?
+    build_number ||= latest_testflight_build_number(api_key: api_key, version: version)
+
+    deliver(
+      api_key: api_key,
+      app_version: version,
+      build_number: build_number.to_s,
+      skip_binary_upload: true,   # the build is uploaded by the beta lane
+      skip_screenshots: true,     # screenshots are managed manually in ASC
+      skip_metadata: false,       # push release_notes from fastlane/metadata
+      automatic_release: true,    # go live automatically once approved
+      submit_for_review: false,   # prepare only — submit stays a manual step
+      run_precheck_before_submit: false,
+      force: true                 # no interactive HTML preview on CI
+    )
+
+    UI.success("Prepared App Store version #{version} (build #{build_number}) for review. Submit it in App Store Connect when ready.")
+  end
 end
 
 # Set a KEY = VALUE line in Config/Shared.xcconfig in place.
diff --git a/fastlane/metadata/en-US/release_notes.txt b/fastlane/metadata/en-US/release_notes.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f51a6dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fastlane/metadata/en-US/release_notes.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Bug fixes and small improvements to make Hemera a little more useful every day.